♫ Lissie | A-

Don't let the album cover fool you, the girl pictured with messy blonde hair and freckles is not Ke$ha. Though similar in physical appearance, the picture on the album cover is Elisabeth Maurus, known by her stage name Lissie. Her debut album, Catching A Tiger, is a promising start to her musical career, with catchy, hand-clapping tunes that will make listeners move.

One of the highlights of Catching A Tiger is "Stranger," Lissie's retro-inspired tune. In the song she calls out to a cheating and deceiving boy, "Excuse me/I am not yours/ I am mine/I am mine." The piano on the song, coupled with vocal harmonies and chants, is straight out of the '60s. Lissie could very well be a long-lost member of the Shangri-Las.

Another great track is "Little Lovin." She sings of Appalachian farmers, Mississippi moonshine, and "N'Orleans."  Her soaring vocals slowly build into a series of chants, foot-stomping beats and irresistible hand-claps. With all of these factors in mind, it's impossible for listeners to stop themselves from dancing to Lissie's ode to Americana.

Though she has many energetic beats in her songs, Lissie proves she can relax as well with mellower tracks like "Record Collector" and "Everywhere I Go." To a slow and steady tambourine Lissie begs, "Tell me how's the way to be/Tell me how's the way to go/Tell me all that I should know." The sweetly unsure track seems like a modern Dusty Springfield, particularly her version of "I Just Don't Know What To Do With Myself."

Lissie's guitar-playing skills seem equally matched to her vocal abilities. She effortlessly switches from gentle strumming to faster-paced riffs. The use of claps, stomps and chants also creates a nice interest when listening to the album from start to finish. Don't be surprised if you hear one of Lissie's songs on an indie film soundtrack; Catching A Tiger is irresistible.